V1C4

Translator: Anne Noh

Both of them had moved back to Xie Family main house for quite some time. If you were to ask Shu Nian about his feeling, there's only a word — tired.

He suspected Xie Yan wanted him to move back to the main house, was simply because it was a plot. Who knows whether in the past few years, Xie Yan's fussiness and OCD had became worst, even servants that had been working for decade couldn't even touch his personal belonging. However the young master had been pampered since child, and he obviously never did anything all by himself, therefore in order to take care of young master Xie's daily needs so that he will live comfortably, Shu Nian had to take several roles, while he was acting as the driver, bodyguard, servant and many other roles, he also occasionally became the chef and a punching bag.

He would never disobey Xie Yan, hence Xie Yan didn't even have to bat an eyelid to pick up a glass when he wants to drink water.

Therefore, right now...hrmm...he was pretty much being controlled by the young master Xie, and was used exclusively by him.

The salary didn't even increase, and it was really unworthy.

"Xiao Nian, I want to drink black tea that was made by you."

"Ah? But this evening you have...ah, do not pinch my face. Okay, okay, okay...wait for me to finish sorting this first." Shu Nian was sweating profusely while organizing Xie Yan's clothes, "Then, how about wearing these clothes tonight? This shirt right here...and this tie goes well with it..."

It was not easy to choose the most appropriate set of clothes from tons of clothes in the wardrobe, not to mention that he was also dragging Xie Yan who was as heavy as a gas tank. It was truly a difficult situation.

That's right, Xie Yan was currently hanging his whole body on him, his arms were sneaking around Shu Nian's waist from behind, and have been sticking on him like a leech. The adult Xie Yan, compared to the young Xie Yan, was like a huge block and had became as clingy as a [1] white sesame candy, and will follow wherever Shu Nian went, and hard to be shaken off.

[T/N: [1] Refer to the picture below.]

"Good, hurry up and make a black tea for me."

Such a huge person like you hanging on my back, how can I move faster!

At the end, Shu Nian had to drag the man that was taller than him and walked wobbly to the kitchen, and then walked back to the living room.

"Hrmm, delicious." The slender and elegant man sat on the couch while holding a cup contently, and then he began to urge Shu Nian, "Go change your clothes, you will go with me tonight."

Shu Nian was hesitated for a while: "Is it okay if I don't go?"

Tonight's party was planned for Xie Yan as a welcoming dinner. Actually everyone was aware that it was nothing but a stage for a feast to find a suitable suitor. Most of them were interested in Xie family, hence beautiful unmarried daughters of prominent families were going to come.

Xie Yan was already 25 years old. Although he was still young, but as the sole heir of respected family like Xie family, it was already time for him to start finding a target for [2] marriage.

[T/N: [2] 联姻 is a business orientated marriage between rich families to form an alliance to strengthen their status and business.]

In these few years, Xie Yan will get married if nothing happened.

Of course, he didn't want to tag along wasn't because he was sad. It was simply because he was busy for the whole day, hence he was a little tired. That's all.

That's the truth.

"Cannot." Xie Yan simply answered, "Quickly go to change your clothes, do not make me wait for you."

Shu Nian forced a smile: "I'm really dizzy, can give I have a break? There's nothing I could do even if I were to accompany you to the feast..."

"Are you sick?" Xie Yan frowned, pushed Shu Nian's hair and touched his forehead, "Do you want me to call Dr. Su to check on you?"

"It will be okay after I take a nap," Shu Nian busily waved his hand to turn down the offer. His face was pale, and he quickly said, "I'm just tired. Quickly go, it would not be good if the celebrated person is late."

Xie Yan looked torn, dawdled for a very long time, and finally he reluctantly allowed him to stay at home: "Then...I'll go alone." It was said as if he was in grievance because Shu Nian didn't accompany him, "You have to get well when I come back! You aren't allowed to get sick tomorrow, you must obediently follow me to the company! Do you understand?!"

After sending away the [3] brat, Shu Nian casually had a dinner, took a bath and went to sleep.

[T/N: [3] 瘟神 is someone that bring trouble / misery to others.]

Actually he wasn't sad at all. Starting from childhood until he reached to adulthood, he never expect anything, hence how could he be disappointed and sad.

Even if he turned a blind eye, he could still imagine the things that will happen to his life in the future

Watching Xie Yan getting married, have children, and inherit Xie legacy. He will continue to stay by his side and remain insignificant. His capability was average, but he's the kind of assistant that would try his best. He wouldn't say anything, and he did not dare to say anything, in case he would lose the right to stay beside Xie Yan and to look after him.

It was Shu Nian's greatest happiness to just quietly stayed by Xie Yan's side, served him, take care of him, silently looked after him every day until they grow old.

Besides, he never dared to wish for anything else.

"Xiao Nian..."

Shu Nian turned around and went back to sleep.

"Hey, how can you sleep so well?! I deliberately ran back to see you, you should quickly wake up and have a chat with me, hey!"

Being firmly pinched at the nose for almost a minute, even a dead person would awake.

"Ugh———" It was difficult to even kept an eye opened, and his huge blurry eyes fixed on Xie Yan's face, they stared at each other for a long time until he awoke completely, "You are home? The party already ended?"

"No, I snuck out." Xie Yan sat beside the bed, reached his hand to touch Shu Nian's face, "I am worried about you, afraid that you will feel uncomfortable due to the pain, who know that you are sleeping so soundly."

Shu Nian was touched. If he completely overlooked all the bullies and rough treatments he received from Xie Yan, he definitely looked like an angel. He felt that he should conceal his sexual orientation and think straight, so that at least he could still receive a little bit of friendship-like warmth.

If he recklessly confessed, it was guaranteed that he will be dead, just like the case of the unlucky soul on the bus, whose fingers were "broken" because he was "abnormal", and Xie Yan refused to have any contact with him. Where else could he receive this kind of happiness just from being so close to him?

"How about those ladies? Anyone pique your interest?" Since he wanted to pretend that he was "normal", then he should acted "normal", and talked about something "normal".

"Scared me out of my wits." Xie Yan scoffed, "Please, the weather is so cold, yet all of them wore revealing and skimpy clothes. This is not a lingerie show. Don't tell me that they thought that was my preference? Two large papayas?! Tsk."

"Uh...Actually, actually it is not that bad..." Shu Nian racking his brain to find words of praise, "Well develop...easier to have children in the future..."

"It is not good, I prefer someone who's quite thin," Xie Yan suddenly smiled, "just like Xiao Nian..." He suddenly reached out his hands, touched Shu Nian's flat chest in a blink of an eye.

The pitiful Shu Nian just woke up, his reaction was still slow. He was startled and groaned: "What are you doing!"

"Huh? Hey. No way, is there any sensation? Xiao Nian, could it be that you are a [4] girl?!"

[T/N: [4] Xie Yan used Chinese world 'girl' when addressing Xiao Nian instead of 'woman' or 'lady.]

Shu Nian pulled down his pajama, his face reddened: "No...you shouldn't talk nonsense."

Man's chest could also be sensitive, not to mention if it was touched by Xie Yan.

"Cannot, I highly doubt it~ ~Let me take a look, either Xiao Nian is a girl or not~ ~Then I will...hehe ~ ~" He laughed like he was possessed, held down Shu Nian and pulled down his pants. Seeing Shu Nian desperately struggling in fear, his laugher became more sinister, "don't want to let me have a look? Then I will touch and see if it is the same~ ~"

Shu Nian began to sweat. He was scared that Xie Yan might found out about the reaction in his lower part and frantically grabbed Xie Yan's playful hand that was trying to probe into his pants: "I'm definitely a man. Enough, cut it out. Go to bed early since we have to go to work tomorrow."

Xie Yan narrowed his eyes at him for a split second, and surprisingly did not continue to tease him. He stood up and shrugged: "Okay then. Since you are so stingy...then I will generously show you mine. I want to take a bath, come and help rubbing my back. I will let you see everything for free."

There was no mistake in his hearing. He must rub the back of the man that tried to pry into his pants...

Shu Nian had no choice but to get up, and then wobbled to the bathroom. He filled the bathtub with water, adjusting the temperature, and waited until the young master was lying comfortably in the bathtub.

Just as he was holding the body wash, he was suddenly held, his whole body was dragged and pressed into the bathtub.

"Ah—" He was caught off guard and choked a small amount of water. He still didn't have a reaction and realized that Xie Yan was smiling in triumphant, as he turned around and fiercely pressed him down: "Don't let me see, it makes me want to see even more! Dare to say no to me? Huh?! This time I'm going to take a proper look from head to toe ~ ~"

"Hey, no, do not fool around..." Shu Nian's voice quivered and he did not dare to look at Xie Yan's amazing upper body that was splayed in front of him. His pajama was soaked with water, and it stuck on his body, making him felt like he was naked. Xie Yan who was naked, dubiously pressed closer toward him, and he could felt a surge of vertigo.

His top had been completely peeled off. His pale skin that was touched by Xie Yan's hot fingers became a shade of pink. Cannot, he will find out...He'll feel disgusted...Shu Nian frantically struggled, and desperately trying to protect his pants that were are being pulled down: "Stop it, Xie Yan...I'm getting angry, Xie Yan..."

"Oh? Angry? I'd never seen how you look like when you're angry, try to show that look to me!" Xie Yan was infuriated, firmly held Shu Nian's wrists and pressed down his legs that were kicking wantonly. He then peeled off the thin layer of cloth, "Why are you mad?! You think that I will rape you?! I'm not gay, what are you afraid of?! Don't tell me that you..."

Their naked bodies stuck closely together. In a split second, Xie Yan turned pale and released him, or truth to be told, he pushed him away. Shu Nian was in a slight trance. Everything happened so quickly, and he was unable to decide either Xie Yan had already saw reaction or not, but Xie Yan's face was really unsightly.

"Get out."

Shu Nian didn't move.

"I told you to get out!"

He watched as Xie Yan's face turned taut as he stood up and quickly wrapped a towel around his waist. Shu Nian hastily picked up his clothes and used it to cover his body as he climbed out sloppily from the bathtub. He was unable to say anything as Xie Yan threw him out from the bathroom with a dark expression. Then Xie Yan roughly shut the door without saying anything.

This is...the end?

Finally he found out about it?

Shu Nian stood in barefoot and stared at the bathroom door, he trembled slightly.

Actually, I never do anything...Even if I got an erection, it still did not prove that I'm that kind of person...I can explain it, can I?

...Xie Yan...even if I'm really gay...I can promise you that I really wouldn't have any improper feeling towards you. I will never dare...I have never done anything that would make you feel disgusted...I, at most I had only touched your lips...I didn't do anything else... I did not dare to do anything for so many years...and it will stay like that in the future too...Can you please believe in me? Please...

It's enough as long as I can look at you.

[1] White Sesame Candy [牛皮糖] — It's not like the western version of white sesame candy which is hard and brittle. 牛皮糖 is a very soft and sticky candy.

Anne's Rant:

*MASSIVE SPOILER ALERT*

Saw the final trailer for Part 2. At first I thought they will end it badly as this novel has 2 endings (BE & HE). Saw the scene for sad ending and almost flip until I saw the scene for happy ending. I must warn that although this novel has 2 endings, it will still be bittersweet even if you choose the happy ending. And for those that prefer sad ending...you cannot read Love Late as Xie Yan and Shu Nian still exist in that novel lol. If you wish to know the ending you can pm me.

Please note that some part might be incorrect as I don't know how to translate it to English. Mistakes are bound to happen and corrections are very welcome.